Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Modifiar, Modefear, n. Also: modifier, -fear. [Modify v. 1.] One who assesses and prescribes (a payment).The quotations in our collections all refer to the members of the various committees, of Privy Council or of Parliament, set up after the Reformation (first in 1562: see Knox II. 310) to assign stipends to the reformed clergy, such as the members of the teinds commissions: see further Locality n. 1 a, Lord n. 17, Plat and Stipend.(1) 1570 Bk. Univ. Kirk I. 179.
If a minister sufficiently provided for his ministratione at any kirke have other benefices … whither the fructs … may be called thift … or just possessione. A. Referr this to the modifiers of stipends as they shall answer before God 1596 Calderwood V. 432.
That the quantitie of the locall … stipend sould be equallie tane … at the discretioun and summar cognitioun of the said modifiers 1600-1610 Melvill 548.
Upon this conditioune that all the kirkis of the prelacies … be provydit with competent livingis as the modifiaris of the said constant plaite sall think expedient(2) 1587 Bk. Univ. Kirk II. 726.
The brethren agreeth that certane of their number be adjoyned with the lords modifyers to perfyte the assignations of this present year 1600 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 172.
To insert a request to the lordis modifearis for inbuiking … him in the buik of platt 1606 Bk. Univ. Kirk III. 1025. c 1607–15 Goudie Shetl. Antiq. 157.
[£20/13/4] assignat to Thomas Swintowne in his stipeind be the lordis modefearis or checker 1609 Stirling Presb. in Hume xlii.
[Appointed by the presbytery] to compeir in their name befoir the lords modefears of stipeinds 1627 Orkney Rentals iii. 86.